With the pride of being a female chauffeur! Belle Ajeja Choo Hyo-joo transferred to Ottawa in the Canadian League
Feb 08, 2025
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Korean women's soccer ace Choo Hyo-joo (25) will transfer to Ottawa Lapid in the Canadian professional league in the new year.
Choo Hyo-joo left Suwon FC Women last year and signed a two-year contract with Incheon Hyundai Steel. Although there is a one-year contract period left, the option to expand overseas was activated. The transfer was made as Hyundai Steel accepted Choo Hyo-joo's will to aspire to challenge. It has agreed to a one-plus-one-year contract with Ottawa of the Canadian Northern Super League (NSL), which will be launched on April 16 of the new year. He will leave the country on the 9th to join the pre-season camp.
Choo felt the world's wall at the 2023 Australia-New Zealand Women's World Cup site and realized the need for a 'big water' challenge for growth. Best friends seniors, including Ji So-yeon, also encouraged talented juniors to challenge themselves. Choo Hyo-joo continued to look into overseas expansion after the World Cup. There were also offers in the British and U.S. leagues last summer, but they couldn't go there less than a year after moving to Hyundai Steel. Multiple leagues such as the United States, Sweden and France showed interest this winter, and Ottawa clubs were the most active. You recognized a lot about me and felt like you wanted me. I was very grateful for that,' he said, explaining the background to Ottawa. "I chose the Canadian League with the mindset that I would go one step up because I was still young. Since it's my first time going overseas, I want to adapt well to Canada and show good performances."
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Choo Hyo-joo said "Director Bell has to experience overseas from before. He advised me a lot that I should run on a big stage. As the transfer was not going well, the coach was also very disappointed." "I also discussed with the coach about Otawa's transfer. The director said 'It's a good experience. You must go and challenge yourself,' he said, encouraging me through Kakao Talk. Even after the contract is signed, he continues to advise 'When are you going to leave the country?' Thanks to this, there is no fear of new challenges and choices," he said, expressing his appreciation.
Chu Hyo-joo "I've had a strong desire to go abroad, but I think it's only now that it's come true," he said with a smile. "The Canadian League is a newly launched league, but it has players from various countries and many physically strong players. I hope it will be good to face and experience stronger players."
Hong Hye-ji, who confirmed his trip to the AFC Toronto early last month, also welcomed Choo Hyo-joo's trip to Canada. Ji So-yeon (Seattle Rains), the spiritual pillar of Korean women's soccer, was also happy about her junior's overseas expansion as if it were her job. "Like men's soccer with Hye-ji, I can do "Korean Derby" with her." It's amazing that I got to play in the same league. My sister talks a lot about things to prepare, saying 'It's very cold' Soyeon was as happy as her job, saying, "Congratulations and support." You always said you had to experience overseas leagues, but when it was decided and I told you, you liked it so much. I feel reassured to have Soyeon in the next neighborhood."
"At the 2023 World Cup, I was one of the youngest players, but now the coach has changed and many juniors have come in. Although he is still young, he is in the middle of the team. It makes me think that I should work harder and set an example for young players." "There are new junior players and older sisters than me, but I think I have to do better regardless of my sister and younger sister. As much as we have had more opportunities to experience the World Cup and the international stage, we need to grow more," he said emphatically.
Ottawa, Canada, is a sacred place for Korean women's soccer. Chu Hyo-joo, the "Korean women's soccer ace" will go to the place where she wrote the history of the first round of 16 with a 2-1 come-from-behind victory over Spain at the 2015 Women's World Cup in Canada. `I have to promote national prestige like my sisters did in Ottawa 10 years ago,' he said with a big smile. She also did not forget to greet women's soccer fans and residents of Ottawa. "It's my first overseas challenge, so I ask for your support and interest. I hope you show interest in the Canadian League and support us a lot. We will always do our best with pride for Korean women's soccer, so please support us a lot!"
Reporter Jeon Young-ji sky4us@sportschosun.com
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
